The 2017 Western Illinois Leathernecks football team represented Western Illinois University as a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) during the 2017 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by Charlie Fisher in his second and final season as head coach, the Leathernecks compiled an overall record of 8âÂÂ4, with a mark of 5âÂÂ3 in conference play, placing fourth in the MVFC. Western Illinois received an at-large bid to NCAA Division I Football Championship playoffs, where the Leathernecks lost to Weber State in the first round. The team played home games at Hanson Field in Macomb, Illinois.
On December 22, Fisher resigned to become the wide receivers coach at Arizona State. He finished at Western Illinois with a two-year record of 14âÂÂ9.